HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A little overwhelmed by the election process? Christian County Now has assembled a guide for Hopkinsville City Council candidates who be on the ballot for the general election. Find out who is running in your ward, and what their platforms are.
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The primary election in May caused a massive shakeup for the Hopkinsville City Council as four, first-term councilmembers lost their seats ahead of the general election. Councilmember Vance Smith, Brandi Stallons, Brittanie Bogard, and Michael Velez all lost to their opposition. Other first-term councilmembers, Elizabeth Draude and Clayton Sumner, were both running unopposed. Terry Meek was chosen to fill the Ward 8 seat through 2026.
Based on the results of the primary, Adian Bruce has already won for Ward 2, Donald Marsh will continue serving in Ward 3, Terry Parker was elected for Ward 4, Travis Martin remains in Ward 6 and Carolyn Hughes is now running unopposed since her competitor dropped out.
There are currently five contested city council seats that will be on the ballot Nov. 3. The following quotes from candidates regarding their platforms are taken from their opening statements during candidate forums with the Hopkinsville League of Women Voters. Full video of debates are available on the City of Hopkinsville YouTube channel.
Ward 1: Chance Andrew Tatum (R) vs Sharon E. Manning (D)
- Vance Smith currently serves as the councilmember.
- Watch their full candidate forum here.
Chance Tatum is a lifelong resident of Hopkinsville and currently serves on the Hopkinsville Beautification Committee and recently started a civilian council advocacy group. He said, “I work hard, I find the most common solution, and I believe we should take care of everything small first before trying to accomplish anything big because if you can’t focus on the details, how can you see the big picture.”
He believes the number one need of the ward is increasing safety, referencing recent fatal incidents that have occurred in the area along with traffic safety issues at intersections.
Sharon Manning has been a local business owner for over 30 years. She said she is passionate about speaking up for people in her ward, and her mission in life it to serve, “I’ve been in my neighborhood for over 48 years. It’s not just where I live, it’s my home.”
Manning said that the number one need for her ward is funding. She expressed the need for the city to invest in more lighting, better infrastructure and beatification efforts. If elected, she plans to stay in contact with her constituents and create a dialog about their needs.
Ward 8: Stephen Crisp (R) vs Tiffany Pittman (D)
- Terry Meek currently serves as the councilmember.
- Watch their full candidate forum here.
Tiffany Pittman is a lifelong Hopkinsville resident and CCHS alumni who currently works as a production trainer. She said, “I am very excited about this journey with city council, and I’m very excited about hopefully winning the seat.”
She believes that the number one need in their ward is infrastructure, specifically with drainage and flooding since her neighborhood had to be pumped out during the flood a few years ago. She said she stepped up for the community during the flood since many residents were unsure of who their councilmember was.
Shephen Crisp is along a lifelong Hopkinsville resident. He said he aims to be responsible with taxpayer dollars and properly fund municipal services while investing in economic growth and infrastructure. He said, “My goal is simple, to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community…I look forward to listening to you, serving you and leading with you.”
Crisp believes the number one need for the ward is safety, specifically around CCHS on Lovers Lane and speeding in residential areas.
Ward 9: Jamie Lynn Lienberger (R) vs Monike Love (D)
- Brittanie Bogard currently serves as councilmember.
- Watch their full candidate forum here.
Jaimie Lynn Lienberger previously served a term as a city councilmember in Hopkinsville. Since she left office, she said she has continued to support agencies in the city and hopes to give Hopkinsville a bright future. She said, “I wasn’t going to run again but I thought maybe now is a good time to come back into the public spotlight and to run again, so here I am to help the city.”
She said the number one need in her ward is what she called the “missing middle,” explaining that there are a lot of vacant lots and homes that need repairs. She would like to see these areas improved and better utilized while eliminating bureaucratic red tape that has prevented growth.
Monike Love is an HHS alumnus who grew up in Ward 9. She decided to run for office because the ward deserves a councilmember that will listen, lead and bring fresh ideas. She said, “I know the people, I know the neighborhoods and I understand that the decisions we make today can have an impact on our families for years to come…I believe in accountability, community involvement, safer neighborhoods, strong community programs and improving our local infrastructure.”
As far as the number one need for the ward, Love said they need more affordable housing so that the “average Joe” can afford to buy a home.
Ward 10: Steve Keel (R) vs Angelita O. Atkins (D)
- Michael Velez Sr. currently serves as councilmember.
- Watch their full candidate forum here.
Angelita Atkins said her campaign is built around three things; listening to the people, doing the work and taking the action. She said it’s important to understand how taxpayer dollars are being spent, and being available for residents while facing hard questions. Atkins said, “I believe representation means more than showing up when it’s election season.”
When asked about the number one need in her ward, she said that instead of “griping” about her ward, she would like to praise residents for taking care of the area. However, she believes there should be more sidewalks and separation from the dog park for safety of children.
Steve Keel spoke about his previous accomplishments during his past term on the city council. He said he never missed a meeting when he was previously elected and was part of key decisions like establishing the Downtown Entertainment District, the new fire station and supporting paving projects to improve infrastructure. He said, “A vote for Steve Keel is a vote for the proven leadership that shows up and is here for all of Hopkinsville.”
Keel said their needs to be improvement in the conditions of sidewalks in the historic district, although there is not one blanket need in the ward.
Ward 11: Jason Bell vs Andrea Santos-Rickard
- Jason Bell is the current councilmember.
- Watch their full candidate forum here.
Andrea Santos-Rickard said that local residents should not take democracy for granted, and she hopes to gain the trust and confidence of residents to become a councilmember. She said, “As an Army veteran, the oath I took to protect the people of the United States and our Constitution, it didn’t expire the day I took off my uniform.”
She said the number one need of the ward is creating better jobs, specifically better paying jobs to get people where they need to be. She also stressed the need for public transportation and more sidewalks to allow people to walk around and enjoy the area.
Jason Bell said he wants to continue serving for at least one additional term, “It’s been a pleasure to serve the last couple of years trying to help and move the city forward.”
He said some of the needs of the ward are to get construction at West Seventh Street finished and deal with stormwater issues. He added that additional sidewalks would make a difference along with improvements at the local park.
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